Educator Resources

Curriculum guides have been developed for teachers and students in middle school and high school, geared toward history and journalism or media literacy classes. These suggested guides include discussion prompts and exercises and follow the Common Core standards for easier implementation within existing programs. Below you will find separate guides for six "Moments of Truth." In addition, we offer a Curriculum-Guide, Curriculum-End-of-Unit-Tasks and Curriculum-After-Video-Writing-Prompt-Rubric for use across all of the guides.

Civil Rights

At a time when the mainstream media chose not to cover widespread discrimination and violence towards blacks, African-American journalists made many brave decisions to both cover and publish violent content. Because of the work of the black press, the American public was exposed to the discrimination facing, and horrendous acts of violence suffered by, African-Americans. This public awareness would eventually lead to the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

This is not a chronological history lesson. This lesson, instead, asks students to critically examine a historical event with which they are already familiar. Prior to this lesson, students should have a basic understanding of the Civil Rights Movement.

Moses Newson, a journalist who covered the Civil Rights movement for black-owned newspapers, remembers riding on a bus of black and white "Freedom Riders" in 1961 as they traveled through the South and encountered violence in Alabama.

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The Freedom Rides

Moses Newson, a journalist who covered the Civil Rights movement for black-owned newspapers, remembers riding on a bus of black and white "Freedom Riders" in 1961 as they traveled through the South and encountered violence in Alabama.

Gene Roberts, former newspaper editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer and author of "The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation," the Pulitzer Prize-winning book on press coverage during the Civil Rights struggle, talks about the importance of the black press as the conscience…

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The Black Press

Gene Roberts, former newspaper editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer and author of "The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation," the Pulitzer Prize-winning book on press coverage during the Civil Rights struggle, talks about the importance of the black press as the conscience…

In August 1955, a 14-year-old black boy named Emmett Till from Chicago visited his relatives in Money, Mississippi, and was brutally murdered by whites, who said he whistled at a married white woman. Moses Newson, an African American reporter, covered the Till trial and subsequent not-guilty jury verdict. Newson says…

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The Emmett Till Murder

In August 1955, a 14-year-old black boy named Emmett Till from Chicago visited his relatives in Money, Mississippi, and was brutally murdered by whites, who said he whistled at a married white woman. Moses Newson, an African American reporter, covered the Till trial and subsequent not-guilty jury verdict. Newson says…

Vietnam War

While the U.S. government created overly optimistic materials that glorified the the Vietnam War, media outlets reported on the reality. Eventually, the public noticed the discrepancies between the government and media reports. Their newfound awareness eventually led to increased public pressure that put an end to the Vietnam War.

This is not a chronological history lesson. This lesson, instead, asks students to critically examine a historical event with which they are already familiar. Prior to this lesson, students should have a basic understanding of the Vietnam War.

On Nov. 12, 1969, reporter Seymour Hersh broke a shocking story about a massacre of hundreds of unarmed men, woman and children in the South Vietnamese hamlet of My Lai. Hersh explains that the story started with an anonymous tip and led him to Fort Benning, Georgia, where the Army…

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My Lai Massacre

On Nov. 12, 1969, reporter Seymour Hersh broke a shocking story about a massacre of hundreds of unarmed men, woman and children in the South Vietnamese hamlet of My Lai. Hersh explains that the story started with an anonymous tip and led him to Fort Benning, Georgia, where the Army…

Watergate

The existence of the free press is what allowed the media to lead the investigation into Nixon following the Watergate scandal. Government investigations of the alleged wiretapping and secret recordings were influenced by the reporting by the media at the time. Journalists brought attention to the connection between Nixon's re-election and the illicit activities, and their work helped bring the truth about the scandal to the public.

This is not a chronological history lesson. This lesson, instead, asks students to critically examine a historical event with which they are already familiar. Prior to this lesson, students should have a basic understanding of the Watergate scandal.

The lesson uses the following video. For additional videos, a historical timeline on the topic and more, view Moments of Truth: Watergate.

Post-September 11th

During the aftermath of the attacks on 9/11, the media was in a position to be manipulated by the government, and fell short in reporting on the secret CIA prisons and the true motives for going to war in the Middle East. Journalists started investigating the government to uncover details about the military actions at the time.

This is not a chronological history lesson. This lesson, instead, asks students to critically examine a historical event with which they are already familiar. Prior to this lesson, students should have a basic understanding of the post-9/11 media.

The lesson uses the following videos. For additional videos, a historical timeline on the topic and more, view Moments of Truth: Post 9/11.

McCarthyism

The media played a major role in bringing down Joseph McCarthy. While he made accusations about communists and started a major witch hunt in the American political scene, journalists worked to expose his lies and end the unrest and widespread claims of treason.

This is not a chronological history lesson. This lesson, instead, asks students to critically examine a historical event with which they are already familiar. Prior to this lesson, students should have a basic understanding of McCarthyism.

Corporate Power

Many media outlets shy away from exposing corporate power. When journalists do investigate and report on abuses of corporate power, however, they do a major public service and can save lives by bringing the truth to light.

This is not a chronological history lesson. This lesson, instead, asks students to critically examine a historical event with which they are already familiar. Prior to this lesson, students should have a basic understanding of corporate power and the media.

New York Times reporter Walt Bogdanich talks about Philip Morris' $10 billion lawsuit against him and the American Broadcasting Companies for his reporting on how tobacco companies add nicotine to cigarettes.

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Taking on Big Tobacco

New York Times reporter Walt Bogdanich talks about Philip Morris' $10 billion lawsuit against him and the American Broadcasting Companies for his reporting on how tobacco companies add nicotine to cigarettes.